Honda Announces Executive Changes in its North American Operations

2/21/2017 3:37:00 PM

Honda today announced changes in the North American executive ranks at its U.S. sales and marketing arm, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., new presidents at Honda of America Mfg., Inc., Honda Canada Inc. (its sales and marketing arm in Canada), as well as changes at other major Honda companies in North America.

Honda traditionally announces changes to its executive management in February. The following executive changes, among others, are effective April 1, 2017:

American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM)

Jeff Conrad, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Honda Automobile Division, will assume additional responsibility for the Acura Division and the Core Support division of Automobile Sales & Marketing.

John Mendel, Executive Vice President of AHM Automobile Sales, will retire.

Keita Muramatsu, currently President, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, Pvt. Ltd., will become Executive Vice President of the Motorcycle Division.

Mike Rudolph, currently Vice President of the Power Equipment Division, will lead the Power Equipment Division.

Scott Conner, Senior Vice President of the Power Equipment Division, will retire.

Honda Accessory America, LLC (HAA)

Katsuhiko Yamada, currentlyOperating Officer for Honda Access Corporation (HAC) in Japan, will become the President of HAA.

Takumi Sekiguchi, currently HAA President, will assume the role of Operating Officer for HAC in Japan.

Honda Canada Inc. (CH)

Dave Gardner, currently Senior Vice President, will become President.

Jerry Chenkin, currently President, will retire.

Honda of America Mfg., Inc. (HAM)

Toshiyuki Shimabara, currently Operating Officer, Executive in Charge of Motorcycle Production, Motorcycle Operations, General Manager, Kumamoto Factory, Executive in Charge of Power Product Production, Power Product Operations, HMC, will become President of HAM.

Tomomi Kosaka, currently President of HAM, will be assigned to a special project to be announced in the near future.

Honda Precision Parts of Georgia, LLC (HPPG)

Shoichi Nakao, currently Plant Manager at the Moka Drivetrain Plant for HMC, will become President.

Masahiko Kayama, currently President, will transfer to Aikitec Co., Ltd. in Japan

Honda Trading America Corp. (HTA)

Greg Norval, currently Senior Vice President, will become President.

Nobuhiko Shiozaki, currently President, will assume other responsibilities at HTA.

Honda Transmission Mfg. of America, Inc. (HTM)

Katsumi Endo, currently Vice President of Honda de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (HDM), will become President.

Tadayuki Oke, currently President, will lead Powertrain strategy for HNA

About Honda in North America Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 40,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion.

Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet.

Nine Honda auto plants in the region, including five in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.92 million automobiles each year. In 2016, more than 96 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America. Those plants today manufacture 17 different models, including nine passenger cars and eight light trucks using domestic and globally sourced parts. Honda also operates 16 major research and development centers in the U.S. with the capacity to fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America.